Dark Beginnings

I'm finally putting to paper a dark piece set in a modern time with a couple of interesting twists in it. It's a story that has been bouncing around in my head for a few years now and I've managed to put the first and final scenes on paper (well, screen at least).

My problem is that I've just read a compelling article on prose, and one of the key points is something that I've struggled with in the things that I've read and watched: delaying the reveal of something so obvious that your seemingly unaware characters begin to read like idiots; where you want to scream at the pages, "For the love of God, the butler did it!" (As appropriate, of course.)

This has, as I mentioned, nagged me in the content I've absorbed, and since twists and reveals are a large part of my writing, I now find myself on the other end of the issue. How much do I reveal before it becomes obvious and ultimately uninteresting?

Online Support

I have started (very much just started) posting on various online forums. Asking questions, leaving comments, and just generally lurking. Forums related to writing. It seems to be a very helpful community and I have stumbled onto a couple of sites that run writing-encouragement programs.

NaNoWriMo is a website built around the National Novel Writing Month (November 1 - 30). The goal of this month is to write a novel, start to "finish," of 50,000 words within the month of November. Not sure how I feel about the idea; any writing is at the least good practice. But this could be an obsessive distraction for me; potentially dangerous. I'll keep it in mind though; November is still a ways off.

Our Eloquence appears to be a community that fosters "Word Sprint" relationships: writers to help and encourage each to reach goals. Be it word counts, chapters, or perhaps complete short works. I haven't flushed out all of the details of what is provided there, but it has captured my interest.

No word back from Dark Recesses or Deep Genre on my submissions, but this is a world of patience as much as a world of words.

Everyone's a Critic

Well perhaps not everyone, but these people seem to be: DeepGenre. They maintain a section entitled "13-Line Critiques". You submit the opening of your short story, and they post it with a bit of a critical review. Others may then comment on your material as well.

In the spirit of open and unbiased criticism, I've submitted the opening lines of "The Twisting" and "Death in the Family" for their review. I'll post a link to the results here.

Magic Numbers

In my current existence, magic numbers are those that are hard coded into your software somewhat arbitrarily.

I'm beginning to learn that writing has its own magic numbers. Bodies of published work, much like the essays we wrote (or avoided) in high school, have standard word counts that are expect. For a first time novel, that number is around 70, 000. I'm not sure how achievable that is for me at this point, but I've already written 4500+ words without completing a chapter.

So far these words represent a first draft of the pivitol moments in three separate chapters. And speaking further in vague details, my current outline consists of 15 chapters. I'm not sure if this is standard either, or if a standard even applies. If the story is told and the pacing is correct, then the book has done its job, right?

The Longest Fall

I've struck upon an idea for Novel. I've become determined to complete the writing of it, but perhaps not the publishing. I've outlined the first 3 chapters, planned out several others and I'm confident that the writing of it would come quite natural.

The subject matter would be... sensitive... I'm not sure where I would go next. But that really isn't important, is it? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

For now, I've settled on "The Longest Fall," but given that in the 3 days since deciding to write it, the name has changed once already (from "Slipping") who knows what it will finish as.

Method to the Madness

I'm not entirely sure that I've made my goal here clear, so let's set one, shall we?

My intent with this record is to share the experience of becoming published with anyone who is interested in reading it. Through both successes and failures, goal number one is to attain, in hand, a physical publication of something I've written.

Depending on the path that takes we can decide on goal two then. ;)

Driven to Distraction

I have the feeling that February may be a month of purging. I find myself drawn to distractions easily; have for most of my life. It is likely the casual acceptance of the fears and doubts concerning what I might accomplish that others seem not to share in me.

I believe I've already identified what is important to me, in one respect at least. The hard part now is going to be to commit to; commit by releasing all the rest.

On a more positive note, "The Twisting" has had several reads and one full editing pass by myself. Feedback is positive and I think I've made it stronger by the effort. Now what to do with it...

Starting to Learn

Having a love of writing and having a talent or skill for it are very different possessions. Much like throwing a baseball to your father in the backyard and driving the third strike in the ninth inning across home base. One most certainly can lead to the other, but there's no true certainty to it.

I've decided to help myself in another way by soliciting the aid of others: other writers. I'm currently in the process of collecting books written to help you learn to write as well as how to approach the published literature market as a business.

I'm also taking some advice to heart that I've been carrying in my head for a good long time, and reading books in genres I normally would not. Starting with some more popular titles as well as some that simply piqued my interest. Broadening my horizons as it were.

Perhaps I'll Do It My Way

Recently I've been furthering my research into the process of publishing a book. With particular interest in getting published. During this search and read activity, I've come across an interesting website belonging to a self-publisher.

Morris Rosenthal has compiled a great deal of information concerning this process and has put it to use personally in the creation of Foner Books. This had been an option I had once considered it, by quickly set aside for no particular reason. May just be worth considering once again.

Short Story Made Long

"The Twisting" is finished. Well, the initial draft is at least; passing it around for some initial feedback while editing it myself. It's almost as if you're writing the same story over and over again. I like it and will likely submit it to Dark Recesses Press.

In the past I've found editing to be an easy way to become disenchanted with an idea. No matter how unique and amazingly fresh the story seemed when originally penning it, by the time I've made a few passes with red ink it starts to feel tired. Another demon determined to distract me from the big picture, to be sure.

The Twisting

Tentatively entitled "The Twisting," I've begun a new body of work with new characters. Set in a modern city, it may never be more than a single story, but it feels fun to write. I've had a few ideas for crime related stories and this will give me a chance to explore writing for that style.

This particular story will follow an investigator's morning at a bizarre crime scene. It's a scene he's investigated on a number of different times, with slight variations. All disturbing. It's difinitely darker than I would normally write and with precious little forethought. "Speed-writing" we'll call it.